Andreas rasmussen



No. 6I9,224. Patented Feb.7, |899. A. RASMUSSEN.

WATER VELUCIPEDE.

(Application filed Sept. 1, 1898.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES rPATENT OFFICE.

ANDREAS RASMUSSEN, OF COBRAM, VICTORIA.

wATER-vELoolPED.

SPEcIFIcATIoN forming part of Letters Patent No. 619,224, dated 'February 7, 189e. Application filed September l, 1898- Serial No. 690,022. (No model.)

To all whom it may cori/cern:

Be it known that I, ANDREAS RAsMUssEN, a subject of the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Cobram, Colony of Victoria, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in l/Vater- Velocipedes; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention.

The object of this invention is to provide a water-velocipede in which the weight shall be supported by the use of three hollow floats, one of which floats constituting a steeringwheel, the same also assisting the rider to maintain his balance and the other two floats constituting screw-propellers which work simultaneously and support most of the riders weight; but the weight they support will be more or less, according to whether he sits upright or leans forward.

The invention is shown in the drawings herewith, in which the propeller-floats are of equal but opposite screw pitch-z'. e., one right-handed and one left-handed-and rotate in the direction of arrows 7 7 in Figures 1, 2, and 3 when the velocipede is being driven forward.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my velocipede with part of the frame broken away. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation, partly in section, on the lines 9 9 in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is an elevation showing the three iioats as they appear from the front. Fig. 4 is a vertical section showing the bevel-gearing used, also the bearings at the forward end of each propeller-shaft; and Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the bearings at the rear end of each propeller. Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of part of the frame.

A is the steering-float, of hollow sheet metal or other suitable material and of any desired form and size, so as to be adapted to revolve only partly submerged in the water. This float is controlled by the handles B, as in steering an ordinary bicycle.

The velocipede may be constructed for any number of persons, but will be sufficiently explained from the drawings, which show a velocipede for one rider, who sits upon a saddle C and actuates the pedals D, which drive bevel-gears of suitable kind. Two sets of bevel-wheels are used, one set for each pedal, as shown by the wheels E, F, G, and l-I, bevelwheels F and G being fast upon a spindle within diverging casings J and J 2, respectively, while a bevel-wheel H is fixed upon each propeller-shaft near the fore end K, Fig. 4, of each shaft. Each propeller-shaft is provided with fore and rear lengths,which are separable from the main or intermediate part, the latter part K L (vide Fig. 2) being constructed of airtight tubing stayed within the floats, as desired. The forward section of each shaft, as shown by K in Fig. 4., is inclosed within a casing X and is provided with oppositely-disposed cones M and N, and the inclosin g casing is provided with cu ps O, between which and the said cones the balls of antifriction-bearings run. The rear section of each shaft, as shown by K2 in Fig. 5, is likewise inclosed within a casing W and is provided with oppositely-disposed cones R and S, between which and the Y cups O in the casing antifriction-balls run. The cups O are adjustable by being screwthreaded and serve to adjust the bearings and retain the saine in position. Screw-caps Q, tittin g upon the ends of said casings X and W, form water-tight stuffing-boxes at the ends of the respective shaft-sections K and K2 by being filled with packing P, as seen in Figs. 4 and 5.

Vhile the intermediate sections of both shafts are shown at K' and L in Fig. 2, the front and rear sections of but one of such shafts are shown-that is, by K and K2 in Figs. 4 and 5; but it will Vbe understood that these shafts are the counterpart of each other and the illustration of but one is necessary.

The tubular central shafts K L are connected to the respective end shafting K and K2 by suitable means which will allow of easy disconnection, because not only will it often be advisable to pack the velocipede into a smaller space when not in use, but it will often be necessary to substitute larger or smaller floats, or floats of different pitch, or floats varying in other points of detail, according to the use to which the velocipede is to be put.

By reason of cups O being provided at each extremity of the shaft the end thrusts of the propellers are suitably sustained.

The hollow propeller-lioats shown by the letters T and U are screw-shaped eXteriorly, so as to act as propellers when revolved by for- IOO ward pedaling, while back pedaling will give tlle Veleeipede. a reverse V4mererrie'mt. The iioats will`be of such size as to be almost wholly but not quite submerged, except at the ends, which are pointed, so as to be en tirely submerged at all times; and it is provided that the pedals are fixed to their spindle so as to work in unison, so that the speed of rotation of each propeller float will be equal to that of the other. Both of said floats are equally distant one on ,each side of the longitudinal central plane.. of the frames, so that the center of gravity is in a plane midway between their axes.

Clips V at the extreme rear of the frame of the machine surround the rear casings W of the propeller-Shafts., and being clamped vspies .Seid .easing Seeurely grip end held the same, but upon being released allow said casings to be withdrawn for the purpose of disee'rineetng the plfepeller-Ileets T and U f reel the, fraise- I wish it understood that I do not confine myself to propeller-floats closely placed, but may have them. at auydesired distance apart, which can easilybe effected by a modification of the barrel-gearing- X is a plug closing an aperture in the casing X, lthrough which the bevel-.wheel G is passed when being tted inte place The fronts of the lower ends of the casings J' .12 are covered by .another shield Whieh has a sharp V-shaped front edge Y to act as a entrerai.er-`

1,11 eerryins; this veleepede epee lend it ms. be conveniently prepelled hy'eey persen whe stands et the 'rear and. uses the easings W .es handles, raising the prepellers clear of the ereund and. allowing Host A to. act. as the wheel of a Wheelberrew,r

Z. iS s Stellt rubber bend ,Sp1-.ung este. the sharp edge around wheel A. This band serves as a protector against stones on land, which might injure the fragile shell of the wheel, and

as a fender in the water, preserving vthe Veloci pede from concussion. i

1. In a water-velocipede thev combination of a propeller-float having a shaft K' or L fastened thereto, a shaft K2 secured separably to one end of the same, and a shaft K secured separably to the other end, two cones R and S upon shaft K2, two cones N and M upon shaft K, and ball-race cups O screwed into the casings Wand X of the shafts K2 and K, substantially ss Set forth..

2. In a water-velocipede, the combination with a pair of propeller-oats, sectional shafts secured thereto, hollow water-tight casings inclosing the ends of said shafts; drivinggearing connected with said shafts within one pair of said ,casings5 and bearings for the end sections of said shafts, within beth pairs .ef Said eesinss, Substantially as described..

3- le e, Weter-veleeipede, the combination with a pair of propeller-floats; sectional Shafts secured thereto; hollow casings inclosing the ends of said shafts; antifrictionfbearings for said shafts within said casings; and stuffingboXes closing the ends of said casings, substantially as described.

4k. I n awaterfvelocipede, the combination with a pair of propeller-floats drivin g-shafts 1 therefor, journal-bearin gs for the ends of said shafts and water-tight casings inclosing said bearings Separately, of bevel-.gears on .Said driving-shafts within one pair of said oasings; a second pairof shafts, and gears thereon meshing with the gears on said drivingshafts, and means for rotating said second pair of shafts, substantially as desc1 ib,ed.`

In Witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name, this 15th day of July,.1898, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ANDREAS RASMUSSEN. Witnesses:

G. Gr.v TURRI, W. H, CUBLEY. 

